Badin civic body passes Rs509.8m budget with small surplus

BADIN: The Municipal Committee Badin has approved a Rs509.8 million budget for 2026-27, setting aside major allocations for employee payments, ward-level development and civic works while projecting a surplus of Rs1.07 million.

The budget was passed during a session in which total estimated expenditures were placed at Rs508.8 million. Chairman Pir Muhammad Saleh Qureshi told the house that the Sindh government provides Rs55.4 million annually to the municipal committee under OZT, while another Rs33 million is released every month for development works and salaries, taking the yearly amount to nearly Rs396 million.

Of the total allocations, Rs297 million has been earmarked for salaries and pensions of employees. Another Rs60 million has been reserved as development funds for councillors across the committee’s 14 wards. The budget also includes funds for public welfare and civic facility schemes.

Law and order and pending funds raised in session

The session also unanimously adopted a series of resolutions dealing with law and order, development schemes, water supply, drainage and urban services. Vice Chairman Akbar Memon voiced concern over worsening crime and insecurity in the city and moved a condemnatory resolution against the performance of Badin Police, which the house approved unanimously.

Qureshi also placed a resolution before the committee stating that Municipal Committee Badin has not received any special development package during the past three years, despite the Sindh chief minister’s approval of Rs1.98 billion in August 2023. The resolution called for the immediate release of the funds so pending water supply, sewerage and drainage schemes could be completed and basic facilities provided to residents.

To strengthen security arrangements in the city, the meeting approved a proposal to install CCTV cameras at key locations with the support of the traders’ community. Under the plan, the municipal committee and traders will contribute Rs1 million each, while an additional proposal was made to seek further funds from police for the project.

Councillors also put forward proposals for a lasting solution to water shortages, improved drainage and sanitation, road repairs and other municipal issues, while pledging to use available resources to improve services for residents.